President Ikeda's guidance on Gongyo

"The heart is what really matters. One cannot simply understand the depth of one's heart. When we practice with the awareness that we may encounter the Gohonzon once in a hundred million or ten billion years, a profound sense of appreciation fills our heart each time we perform gongyo."

Discussion Forum

"I would like you to be diligent in the practice of gongyo and daimoku so that you will lead a life of ultimate satisfaction. The Gohonzon embodies the highest of all laws. No path in life is more significant than one based on chanting…Continue

Gongyo is a solemn ceremony in which we fuse our lives with the lifestate of the Budda By steadfastly and continually carrying out the practice of gongyo and daimoku the world of Buddhahood in our life becomes solidified, just as firmly packing a…Continue

When I am in a campaign to overcome, do my Human Revolution, or support the Youth Division, or other members, I find that after a half hour of chanting if I do Gongyo it gives me new energy and gives me a thrust, like a rocket, to continue another…Continue

I often do gongyo with my husband, but there are times when our schedules don't allow for this. Sometimes I am just so glad that he sees me struggling with chanting in the morning and smiles and says good morning and helps me recite the sutra.…Continue

Comment Wall

You need to be a member of Gongyo and Daily Practice to add comments!

I am profoundly delighted o be connected to this group again. I received for the first time in four or five years an e-mail connecting me to this group. I am waking up my desire for attaining the way once again this morning because of this e-mail. Thanks to whom ever made this happen.

Last evening enjoyed the world of rapture with my husband, having some food and beer in big town where he works. This morning so much obstacle in summoning life force to do gongyo. I clicked on this site and chanted along with the YouTube gongyo at the top of this page. Afterwards I started singing. the song Sunnyside of the Street. And now I am going for a walk. Gongyo is so invigorating.

Our practice of gongyo and daimoku is a sublime ceremony enabling the Buddhist gods inherent in the universe to limitlessly increase their power. Our ichinen during gongyo and daimoku should be profound and full of sincere prayers. A gongyo done half asleep or too quickly, as if being chased by your busy schedule, will not be sufficient to allow the Buddhist gods to protect you.

April 11:As long as our mind of faith is connected to the Gohonzon, our benefits will never disappear. That's why it is vital for us to persevere in our Buddhist practice throughout our lives, no matter what, even if on some days our physical condition or other circumstances prevent us from doing gongyo and chanting daimoku to our full satisfaction. Those who continue to challenge themselves to the end savor ultimate victory.-Dr. Daisaku Ikeda, SGI President

Looking at the Gohonzon is like looking at the universe, like having a vast, commanding view of its entirety. The Gohonzon is a representation of the driving force and the essence of the universe itself. Therefore, whatever part we look at, it is just as if we are looking at the universe. In that respect, it doesn’t really matter where we fix our gaze. Still, it is easier to chant if we focus on the centre. I have also been told in the past by my seniors that myo represents the human head, and I should look at it when I chant. Just look at the part of the Gohonzon that you feel most comfortable focusing on. The Lotus Sutra says that one should perceive the true aspects by sitting straight (Sutra on How to Practice Meditation on the Bodhisattva Universal Worthy). From the point of view of Nichiren Buddhism, “the true aspect” means “Gohonzon”, to perceive means “to have faith”. Sitting up straight, facing the Gohonzon and Chanting Daimoku with firm faith in the Gohonzon is what it means to have sincere, dedicated faith. The Gosho does not tell us where we should fix our gaze when we chant. There is no rigidity in this practice. In his great compassion, Nichiren Daishonin has permitted us the freedom to chant in the way best suited to us. (Discussion On Youth - Vol 2, 137-8, Publisher Eternal Ganges, India)

Hi Kelley, When you Chant to The Gohonzon, You are Chanting to your highest Life Condition, The Gohonzon is a Mirror to bring out your Buddha Nature, "When we Single-Mindedly Chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with faith in the Gohonzon, it it like facing a mirror and seeing our inner universe-the towering life state of Buddhahood-Clearly reflected back at us." (Living Buddhism,Mar-April 2009)

Hi Kelly. Maybe you can start reading the translation of the 2nd & 16th chapter that we already recite that is translated in the back portion of our liturgy books starting with page 20. You can then read Nichiren's writing: